What is your dream fish finder/sonar set up?

I currently have a HB 798CI HD SI unit, I still have the stock transducer which probably needs to be upgraded to the XHS 9 HDSI 180 T. The new side imaging technology is new to me, for the most part I understand how it work and I have a pretty good grasp on interpreting the images. Im just not getting very clear images or any images at all when I know there is a set of beds or some structure underneath the boat. I have the HB 798 mounted on my trolling motor so I can "in theory" see 360* by slowly rotating the trolling motor. (I'm not sure if i am actually gaining anything by doing this, it just made sense to me when i mounted it).


Im strongly debating getting a larger unit for better resolution and overall better performance. What types of set ups are working good for everyone? Should I get a straight DI unit for the bow and an SI unit for the console? I currently don't have a unit on the console because i spend most time up front.
I don't mind paying the $$ if its going to be worth it in the long run. I don't want to spend a fortune but I do want something that is going to be expandable (like a future i-pilot), upgradable, and halfway reliable.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

My dream would be to have the ability to integrate all makes and modes on the Ethernet to share information. Crossing the "manufacturers greed barrier" would make for simple decisions and we could pick and choose what we like without a complete colonscopy.

That would be great. So lets say you can pick and choose, what would you do? What if you couldn't integrate different brands, who would you use and why?

I will tell u what I just bought. I got a lowrance touch 9 at console and an elite 7 at the bow. I am extremely pleased and don't see how I could do any better. Got the elite because I didn't want the SI up front where I am fishing. I would look like a drunken boater if I could see beside me while fishing. Just my opinion but it is going to be a great set up once I figure out how to use it

Can you post some screenshots from your 798...??

Maybe you have an xducer installation issue...or need some settings tweaking...

Rickie

Im trying to recover the screen shots that i just deleted, i will try and post asap.

As far as settings, i have mostly everything in the midrange with some minor tweaking. I try and keep my side imaging to about 50 ft so i have better resolution, but it still isn't that great.

Does anyone have any baseline settings that work great besides what I've mentioned?

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Originally Posted by Detmerdj

Im trying to recover the screen shots that i just deleted, i will try and post asap.

As far as settings, i have mostly everything in the midrange with some minor tweaking. I try and keep my side imaging to about 50 ft so i have better resolution, but it still isn't that great.

Does anyone have any baseline settings that work great besides what I've mentioned?

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*Set the Beam Select under the Sonar tab to 200kHz...(screens scrolls faster with this setting)...
*Max Depth Setting under Sonar tab to 10' deeper than your water depth...
*Chart speed to match boat speed...
*Keep boat path as straight as possible
*SI Sensitivity to brighten/darken the screen
*SI Contrast 10 (unless looking specifically for fish...then 12-14)..
*SI Sharpness Off
*Pick a SI pallette color that works well for the sunny or cloudy day..

Rickie

Thanks, I will have to input those settings.

Im trying to attach a few of my better pics, the quality isn't the best. They seem a little grainy to me.

Let me know if you have any input.

Attachment 160654
Attachment 160655
Attachment 160656

The 1st SI pic looks like the Chart Speed was a little too fast...stretching the echoes...

The 2nd SI pic looks like the Contrast may be a tad high...(or Sharpness too high)...either can cause graininess...

The 3rd SI pic...do you remember what setting was changed that caused the abrupt change in the history about 1/3 down the screen...??

Rickie

The only thing that would have changed would be the SI viewing distance.
I have the transducer mounted on the trolling motor so the hiccup in pic 3 could be movement of the t-motor.

I am goin to Bass Pro tomorrow to see if they have the new Lowrance Elite 7 HDI CHIRP in stock. If they dont have it i will order from Cabelas. I hav been researching alot and think thats the way to go.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wipanfisher

I am goin to Bass Pro tomorrow to see if they have the new Lowrance Elite 7 HDI CHIRP in stock. If they dont have it i will order from Cabelas. I hav been researching alot and think thats the way to go.

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Quote:

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Originally Posted by wipanfisher

I am goin to Bass Pro tomorrow to see if they have the new Lowrance Elite 7 HDI CHIRP in stock. If they dont have it i will order from Cabelas. I hav been researching alot and think thats the way to go.

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I would really consider the Garmin 741xs if you want a 7 inch Chirp unit. These are the best detail I have seen. I would love to have a 10 inch at the console and a humminbird at the trolling motor. I have always been a Humminbird man, these Garmin's are the best I have seen in the last couple of years. Most of the Saltwater guides around here run them. They produce crisp images and a bright display. Their chart system is superior, you can make routes on your IPad, iPod, or iPhone and Bluetooth it to your unit. They have many other neat features too!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by rnvinc

*Set the Beam Select under the Sonar tab to 200kHz...(screens scrolls faster with this setting)...
*Max Depth Setting under Sonar tab to 10' deeper than your water depth...
*Chart speed to match boat speed...
*Keep boat path as straight as possible
*SI Sensitivity to brighten/darken the screen
*SI Contrast 10 (unless looking specifically for fish...then 12-14)..
*SI Sharpness Off
*Pick a SI pallette color that works well for the sunny or cloudy day..

Rickie

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Detmerdj....Try the above settings I listed and get some more screenshots ...(try not to change any settings during the "full history scroll" of the display so that the entire display history is of 1 invariable "set" of settings)...

Then if you want to experiment with some different settings...make the settings changes...and allow the the entire screen history to be created with that "set" of settings...

Even keeping notes of the settings associated with that certain snapshot helps to remember what is what when learning settings...

If you don't remember what snapshot you just took...:

*Press Menu twice to open the main tabbed menu system...
*Cursor over to the "Views" tab...
*Cursor down to the Snapshot and Recording view...
*Cursor to make it "Visable"...
*Exit out of the Main menu...
*Cycle thru the views until you get to the Snapshot and Recording view...
*The top snapshot in that view will be listed for the designation...

(or you can just open a chart view, activate the 4way cursor, move the cursor to the new waypoint just created when you took the snapshot...and the designated snapshot name will show on the chart)...

Rickie

Quote:

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Originally Posted by wipanfisher

I am goin to Bass Pro tomorrow to see if they have the new Lowrance Elite 7 HDI CHIRP in stock. If they dont have it i will order from Cabelas. I hav been researching alot and think thats the way to go.

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Call Brian at BBG Marine, he'll save you some money.

I have a 998c hdsi at the console right now and a 728 up front. I'd like to upgrade the 728 to an 859ci and link it with the 998 via ethernet so I can share waypoints. I'd be plenty happy with that setup. An 1199 at the console would be nice, but I don't have any problem finding things on the SI view of the 998.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Detmerdj

I currently have a HB 798CI HD SI unit, I still have the stock transducer which probably needs to be upgraded to the XHS 9 HDSI 180 T. The new side imaging technology is new to me, for the most part I understand how it work and I have a pretty good grasp on interpreting the images. Im just not getting very clear images or any images at all when I know there is a set of beds or some structure underneath the boat. I have the HB 798 mounted on my trolling motor so I can "in theory" see 360* by slowly rotating the trolling motor. (I'm not sure if i am actually gaining anything by doing this, it just made sense to me when i mounted it).


Im strongly debating getting a larger unit for better resolution and overall better performance. What types of set ups are working good for everyone? Should I get a straight DI unit for the bow and an SI unit for the console? I currently don't have a unit on the console because i spend most time up front.
I don't mind paying the $$ if its going to be worth it in the long run. I don't want to spend a fortune but I do want something that is going to be expandable (like a future i-pilot), upgradable, and halfway reliable.

Any help is greatly appreciated!!

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I am currently using a 788 behind the wheel for mapping and depth reading only. I have a 898 mounted 6" from my face on the console for SI, DI and waypoint creation, I then have a 998 mounted on the bow for attacking the fishing spot. All are connected with ethernet.

I would like to have a different setup and it would be changing a lot of what I am doing. First I would change brands to Lowrance. I would have 2-HDS10, and 2-HDS8, one each at the helm and on the bow. The both HDS10 would be for sonar, SI, and DI. The two HDS8 would be primarily used for mapping but can be used in a split screen with mapping and sonar to free up the 10's for SI and DI only. All would be connected with ethernet, NEMA, with a sonar hub and structure scan box. The Sonar hub would operate the LSS-1 transducer and 2D transducer on the TM. The sonor hub will synchronize the 2d and DI so they match on the screen at the bow. The LSS-1 structure scan box would operate the LSS-2 transducer on the back of the boat. Ooo ya one more thing... A big battery!!!

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Originally Posted by justinp61

Call Brian at BBG Marine, he'll save you some money.

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x2.